Charnwood

Charnwood's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, health and ethnicity.

The population reached nearly 170,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Charnwood increased by 8.2%, from just over 153,000 to 166,000.

The addition of just under 13,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Charnwood was home to, on average, 4.2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Rise in private renting

Census 2011 data also show a housing tenure change in Charnwood.

The percentage of households in Charnwood that rented privately increased from 8.3% in 2001 to 14% in 2011.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 12%, while the percentage of Charnwood households that owner their home decreased from 77% to 72%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Charnwood increased by 5.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Charnwood, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Charnwood residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.3% to 4.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71% in 2001. The percentage of Charnwood residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Charnwood decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Charnwood, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Charnwood

The number of people in Charnwood from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 10,000 in 2001 to just over 16,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 6.7% to 9.7% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the East Midlands (from 4.7% to 7.0%), but at a similar rate to the average across England (from 5.2% to 8.0%).

The number of people in Charnwood from the White ethnic groups increased from about 140,000 in 2001 to about 150,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 92% to 87%. The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 1,400 to about 2,600 (from 0.9% to 1.6%).

Just over 1,300 people (0.4%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just under 620 in 2001 (0.8%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Charnwood increased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Charnwood by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Charnwood working less than 16 hours increased from 2.3% to 3.7% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 10 (9.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 13% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 1.8% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Charnwood increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Charnwood, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Charnwood

The number of people in Charnwood that described themselves as Muslim increased from about 2,400 in 2001 to just over 3,900 in 2011. This represents a change from 1.6% to 2.4% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 1.8% to 3.4%) and the average across England (from 3.2% to 5.2%).

The number of people in Charnwood that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 110,000 in 2001 to about 92,000 in 2011 (from 70% to 56%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from about 26,000 to just under 49,000 (from 17% to 29%).

About 11,000 people (6.5%) did not state their religion, up from about 10,000 in 2001 (6.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Muslim in Charnwood remained close to 2.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Charnwood by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links